Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Meilen Cost of Living Comparison Between Geneva and Meilen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,121 per month in Geneva vs $3,456 in Meilen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,298 per month in Geneva vs $5,967 in Meilen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,476 per month in Geneva vs $8,477 in Meilen, rent included.

Geneva costs about 19% more than Meilen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Geneva and Meilen sit above the global median – Geneva by 201%, Meilen by 153%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.82 CHF 25.44

$30.64 CHF 25.29

0.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$133 CHF 110

$122 CHF 100

9.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.06 CHF 14.91

$16.67 CHF 13.76

8.34%

Cappuccino

$6.51 CHF 5.37

$6.26 CHF 5.17

3.99%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 CHF 4.19

$5.55 CHF 4.58

-8.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 CHF 3.55

$5.04 CHF 4.16

-14.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.69 CHF 8.00

$8.43 CHF 6.96

14.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.53 CHF 7.87

$8.54 CHF 7.05

11.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.40 CHF 1.98

$2.22 CHF 1.84

8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 CHF 2.84

$3.54 CHF 2.92

-2.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 CHF 2.75

$4.04 CHF 3.33

-17.57%

Eggs

$7.86 CHF 6.49

$7.97 CHF 6.57

-1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.58 CHF 21.12

$27.40 CHF 22.62

-6.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$28.71 CHF 23.70

$26.64 CHF 21.99

7.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.27 CHF 34.89

$41.75 CHF 34.46

1.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 CHF 2.94

$3.66 CHF 3.02

-2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CHF 1.39

$2.08 CHF 1.71

-19.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 CHF 2.29

$2.67 CHF 2.20

3.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 CHF 4.00

$4.86 CHF 4.01

-0.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 CHF 1.30

$2.10 CHF 1.73

-24.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 CHF 1.77

$2.21 CHF 1.82

-2.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 CHF 1.80

$2.38 CHF 1.96

-8.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CHF 1.34

$1.29 CHF 1.06

25.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.13 CHF 9.19

$11.10 CHF 9.16

0.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.07 CHF 9.96

$13.39 CHF 11.05

-9.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 CHF 2.72

$2.21 CHF 1.82

48.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 CHF 2.91

$2.84 CHF 2.34

23.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.70 CHF 3.05

$4.59 CHF 3.79

-19.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.9 CHF 75.9

$102 CHF 84.2

-9.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.72 CHF 6.37

$7.97 CHF 6.58

-3.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.02 CHF 3.32

$4.74 CHF 3.91

-15.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$65.0 CHF 53.6

$88.0 CHF 72.7

-26.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.33 CHF 1.92

$2.19 CHF 1.81

6.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.2K CHF 32.4K

$39.8K CHF 32.8K

-1.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$40.3K CHF 33.2K

$40.5K CHF 33.5K

-0.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$288 CHF 238

$240 CHF 198

20.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$37.66 CHF 31.08

$39.33 CHF 32.46

-4.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 CHF 48.10

$66.0 CHF 54.5

-11.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 CHF 62.1

$92.6 CHF 76.4

-18.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.11 CHF 37.23

$46.24 CHF 38.17

-2.44%

Cinema Ticket

$24.37 CHF 20.12

$22.49 CHF 18.56

8.36%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,401 CHF 1,982

$2,882 CHF 2,379

-16.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.2K CHF 29.9K

$44.1K CHF 36.4K

-18.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 CHF 114

$140 CHF 115

-1.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$80.9 CHF 66.8

$60.3 CHF 49.80

34.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$166 CHF 137

$150 CHF 124

10.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$187 CHF 155

$173 CHF 143

8.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,833 CHF 2,338

$1,772 CHF 1,462

59.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,110 CHF 1,742

$1,493 CHF 1,232

41.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,745 CHF 3,916

$2,847 CHF 2,350

66.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,727 CHF 3,076

$4,086 CHF 3,373

-8.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$22.5K CHF 18.6K

$16.1K CHF 13.3K

40.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$16.1K CHF 13.3K

$12.3K CHF 10.2K

30.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,207 CHF 5,948

$8,471 CHF 6,992

-14.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.98

1.72

15.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Geneva: September 12, 2026

Last update for Meilen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,833 in Geneva versus $1,772 in Meilen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Meilen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $133 in Geneva versus $122 in Meilen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $598 vs $591 – making Meilen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Geneva vs Meilen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Geneva is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,181 per month in Geneva and $5,184 in Meilen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meilen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Geneva, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $133 in Geneva and $122 in Meilen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,121 in Geneva and $3,456 in Meilen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Meilen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Meilen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geneva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.